Page 30 of Coral Prince Conundrum
We both laugh, a mirthful, joyous noise in the middle of the sea. “She is a good boss and a great person.”
“Yes, well, I don’t want to be in danger when we break up.” He turns to me again. “How are we going to break up?”
I bite my lip and ponder that same question. Before I can say more, the fog grows denser. Drakey beneath us slows down, and I sense the movement of water in the air.
“Woah, stormy weather,” Daryl murmurs.
He cuddles closer to me, and a smirk breaks from my lips. I breathe in his scent, then look up. “There is nothing to fear. This…” I wave my hands around, repelling the watermanipulation of our guards. The fog clears, like an open gate on the ocean. “This is home.”
We pass through, and the storm is gone. It is good to know our border guards still make effective storm barriers. A surface-dweller boat would have turned back, but not I. The guards stand at their posts atop rafts, and they each bow to me.
Several guards approach and flank me on their own sea dragons. Daryl looks around, likely shocked at the fog dissipating so abruptly. Drakey slows as we get closer and closer to the port.
“What the…” Daryl mutters.
Arcs of water splash above us, and several people cheer, indicating my return. “Welcome…to the Coral Kingdom.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Seero
I take Daryl’s hand and lead him into the designated water taxi. It’s a gilded raft, similar to the gondolas of Italy, but enclosed, with large, windowed walls. Privacy is a must for us in the royal family, and this is evident by the media outlets flanking this water channel outside the port. I remind the driver and the guards that we are to stay above the water at all times, and they state their understanding. Then, with my guards mounting the saddles on their large seahorses, our water taxi moves forward, pulled by another sea dragon and its rider.
Once we’re in motion, I finally relax in the cushioned seat, fashioned from the finest kelp leather. Meanwhile, Daryl is sitting next to me, gazing out the windows. His jaw drops, likely in awe of all the townsfolk who have come to watch my procession. I take in how the light catches his handsome face. Having him here in my home country warms a corner of my soul I didn’t realize. This stranger has become so important to me in a matter of weeks.
His hand is inches from mine, and I resist that familiar pull to touch his skin. But we are alone in this boat compartment, and this is for show. We are not real fiancés, and I need to keep reminding myself of that.
“Ocean gods,” he murmurs. He touches his lips and continues to gaze out the window. I wish I could reach over and kiss him, but that would be unwise. I turn to see what he’s looking at, and I watch the several three-story-high buildings pass us by. Watery channels, back streets we could take, also pass us by, likely with other sea dragons and seahorses available for mounting.
“Do you like what you see?”
“It’s unbelievable,” Daryl says wistfully. “Does everyone here, like, ride giant seahorses?”
I chuckle. “Sometimes.” I gaze out at the people, my people, some bending water upward to move crates to higher levels. “I forget how fantastic we might seem to you.”
“It’s astounding.” He gulps. “Do I have to, like…wear a scuba suit when I go to your house?” He gazes at me in fear. “Or a castle? Do you live in a castle? Will I be permitted in your castle? Seero, please tell me I can borrow a scuba suit, I don’t have gills!”
I laugh and touch his shoulder. “Do not fret, my dear Daryl. You will be permitted in all of my living quarters, because you are considered my betrothed. That garners you all the privileges of the royal family.”
He pauses, then rubs my hand. “Fake…betrothed.”
We both gulp, and I put my hand down. “Anyway,” I say. “We are heading to my royal surface home, which we rarely use. It is above the water, so you will be able to breathe.”
He whistles in relief. “Good.”
“It is not as lavish or roomy as the main palace, so I apologize for the smaller quarters.”
“Smaller quarters?” He smirks at me. “How many bedrooms does it have?”
“Other than the servants’ floor? About seven.”
“Seven?! Servants’ floor?!” He shoves me, and we both laugh. “Well, I’m sure I can someday forgive you for bringing us into squalor, Your Royal Highness!” His voice is drenched in tittering sarcasm. “I need nine rooms to live, after all.”
“Stop!” I keep giggling as he pushes me.
“No! I live in a freaking one-bedroom! And you have multiple houses! You have no idea what normal people live like!” We both continue to laugh as I push him back, trying to tickle him. We push and pull, and it’s a fun rapport, like I’ve known Daryl my whole life.
“Okay! Okay, I concede.” We both calm down, and I lift my hands. “I admit, it is a large house.”
